Comments Off on Retro-inspired beach hut rotates to catch the sun’s rays all day long

London-based JaK Studio has just unveiled a retro beach hut that rotates to follow the position of the sun. Located on the popular Eastbourne Beach, The Spy Glass is an egg-like pavilion striped in bright colors with an all-glass facade on one side and two port hole windows on the other. Once inside, visitors can enjoy beautiful 180-degree views of the beach and the promenade without moving an inch, because the structure is set on a rotating turntable. The design concept was inspired by the classic, colorful beach huts that were once an iconic symbol of the British seaside as well as the common coin-operated binoculars found at many tourist sites. Currently located at Eastbourne’s beach and pier, JaK Studio’s Spy Glass design puts a fun, modern spin on the classic huts by incorporating movement. Related: SPARK designs solar-powered beach huts made from discarded ocean trash “We wanted to pay homage to the traditional beach hut whilst creating a modern concept for a design classic,” Jacob Low, founding partner of JaK Studio, explained. “A big inspiration to our project was the coin slot binoculars which allow one to gaze out to sea . As you can move these binoculars, users can also move our Spy Glass to interact with the sun or coastline. It will hopefully bring a bit of nostalgia to local residents and those visiting on days out.” The brightly-painted orange and blue wooden shingles on the front door of the precast concrete pavilion achieve a nautical feel. The front door opens up to a compact space with an upholstered bench that allows people to relax and enjoy the views through the large glazed wall. A loft rests above the front door, and visitors can climb up into this area and enjoy vistas from two port hole windows. There is also a shower and ample storage, both installed to provide the basic amenities of a private beach hut. Both the large window and the port hole windows allow visitors to effortlessly enjoy views of the beach, the pier or even the promenade. The views change as the hut rotates, which is made possible by a recessed turntable. Operated by a remote control, the structure can be turned 180 degrees to provide the best views at every moment of the day. The Spy Glass hut design was one of the winning entries of an international competition hosted by Eastbourne Borough Council, which sought designs for iconic beach huts with a modern-day twist. + JaK Studio Via Dezeen Photography by Francesco Russo and Nick Kane via JaK Studio

Comments Off on MINI just unveiled an amazing all-electric model of their iconic car

MINI just unveiled a blast from the past with a modern twist: the classic MINI Electric. This unique all-electric car signals their commitment to zero emissions technology. In a statement , MINI said, “The spontaneous power of its electric motor provides a new dimension to the unmistakable go-kart feeling that helped propel the British small car in its original form to worldwide popularity.” The one-off classic MINI Electric hearkens back to the brand’s historic car – and it’s drumming up excitement for a fully electric production vehicle set to debut next year. The vehicle is a bright red “carefully restored example of the classic MINI Cooper ,” enhanced with yellow MINI Electric logos and a contrasting white roof. Technical specifications are scant – but the vehicle is equipped with a single electric motor, according to Carscoops . Related: MINI re-envisions the Cooper hatchback as an EV “The classic MINI Electric is the result of an imaginary journey through time, where the story of the classic model is extended by a consecutive chapter,” the company said. “The original from the second half of the 20th century becomes a sympathetic ambassador for environmental awareness and a form of sustainable mobility whose future has just begun.” Electrek pointed out that MINI has unveiled three working electric concepts without bringing one to production and it’s about time they did so — they’ve been laboring on EV MINIs for around 10 years now. They produced around 600 examples of 2008’s MINI E, which helped pave the way for the BMW i3 . The company’s production EV is being developed right now, MINI said, and is “based on the MINI 3 Door.” It will go into production in 2019 at their Oxford plant. The unveiling will coincide with the 60th anniversary of their classic car. + MINI Via Carscoops and Electrek Images via MINI

Comments Off on 30 easy and delicious popsicle recipes perfect for summer

Are you looking for a delicious way to cool off in the summer heat? We’ve rounded up 30 easy and quick popsicle recipes made from fresh summer fruits and vegetables. From the classic triple berry popsicles to the more unusual carrot cake and almond butter popsicle, our list should have something to please everyone in the family. Keep reading to see all the popsicle recipes.

Decadent, delicious desserts don’t need to take long to prepare. We’ll show you how to make these scrumptious, vegan Rocky Road fudge cups that can be whipped up in a jiffy and no need baking at all. Perfect as a holiday dessert or year-round sweet, these fun treats are a twist on the classic peanut butter cups and can be made ahead of time and frozen in batches. Keep reading for the full recipe. READ MORE>

Do you sometimes dream of building your own Hobbit house ? How about a mansion modeled after the Secret Garden? NeoMam Studios recently produced a new infographic for Terrys Fabrics that provides detailed floor plans for 9 homes from classic literature. Check them all out after the break – from Dr Jekyll’s laboratory to Dracula’s keep and Jane Eyre’s estate! The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing! Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: Homes of Classic Literature Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: architecture in fiction , architecture in literature , fictional architecture , Green Building , green design , Hobbit House , homes of classic literature , infographic , Sustainable Building , sustainable design , the hobbit

Comments Off on “The Square” Re-Imagines the Shape of the Classic Water Bottle

When it comes to water bottles, it’s hip to be square. Made of stainless steel and BPA free plastic, The Square water bottle and its unique silhouette is the product of a three-year collaboration between engineers and designers from Apple, Stanford, and Frog Design . With ends that unscrew for easy cleaning and a shape that fits easily in the hand and does not roll away when set down to rest, the 20 oz bottle is currently looking for support through Kickstarter . Read the rest of “The Square” Re-Imagines the Shape of the Classic Water Bottle Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: apple , BPA Free , david mayer , frog design , kickstarter , stainless steel , stanford , the square , water bottle

If you’ve been missing the classic “Walk, Don’t Walk” signs of old-school New York City, you’re in luck. You can now own one of the iconic signs and use it to light your home. UK-based lamp manufacturer Felix Lighting…

Photo: Kelly Rossiter I’ve been know to make pesto from lots of things like kale and asparagus , in addition to the classic basil pesto, but it never occurred to me to make it with cherry tomatoes. The tomato plants in my garden are producing quite a serious amount of cherry tomatoes, and it’s been a bit of a challenge to keep up with them. This recipe was such a terrific use for them, fast and easy to make, with the wonderful flavour … Read the full story on TreeHugger